Istres-Le Tubé | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. Too low, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Gresou, near Divajeu, some 20 km northeast of Montélimar. All three crewmen from the 51st Bomb Squad were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Marcel Descoudras, pilot,
Sgt Armand Lautrette,
Sgt Jean Saulnier.

Crash of a Potez 540 in Momas: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1938 at 2350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Potez 540

Operator:

Registration:

X-126

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Istres - Pau

MSN:

YOM:

1936

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Captain / Total flying hours:

1530

Circumstances:

The crew departed Pau-Uzein in the early evening on an exercice to Istres and back. On approach to Pau Airport at night, the crew failed to realize his was too low when the airplane impacted trees and crashed in Momas, north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Adj/C Louis Boisson, pilot,
Sgt Jean Reulet, pilot,
Sgt Jean Bella, radio operator,
Sgt Serge Vasseur, technician.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Albon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1938 at 2235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bloch MB.200

Operator:

Registration:

E-060

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Istres - Lyon

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Istres-Le Tubé AFB at 2145LT on a flight to Lyon-Bron on behalf of the Centre d'Essais en Vol based at Istres Airport. While cruising at low altitude in excellent weather conditions, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed near Albon, about 30 km south of Vienne. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Richaud, pilot,
Adj Courant, pilot,
Sgt/C Perriat, copilot,
Adj Cazenave, radio operator,
Sgt/C Brunet, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Latécoère 28-1 near Istres: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Latécoère 28

Operator:

Registration:

F-AJPB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Marseille - Barcelona

MSN:

926

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a mail flight from Marseille to Barcelona, carrying three crew members and mail. Prior to departure from Marseille, the crew was instructed to make an intermediate stop at Lézignan-Corbières Airport to pick other mail bags. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising south of Istres, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in an open field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Pierre Lemoine, pilot,
Marcel Lhuillier, copilot,
Louis Gauthe, radio navigator.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Montarnaud: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1935 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bloch MB.200

Operator:

Registration:

E-998

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Toulouse - Istres

MSN:

190

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Toulouse-Francazal Airport in the morning on a liaison flight to Istres, carrying five crew members from the 101/II Squadron. En route, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to low clouds. At full speed, the airplane impacted the top of a hill and crashed near Montarnaud. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five crew members were killed. The registration may be A190 DE.
crew:
Lt Martel, chief,
Adj Bertrand, pilot,
Sgt Kremer, gunner,
Sgt Minondo, radio operator,
Sgt Rousseaux, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Levasseur PL.8 in Istres

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Levasseur PL.8

Operator:

Registration:

F-AJKP

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dakar - Istres

MSN:

PL.8-02

YOM:

1928

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Circumstances:

The pilot Henri Delaunay was completing a mail flight from Dakar to Istres-Le Tubé Airport. Upon landing, the aircraft hit a pothole, went out of control and came to rest with serious damages. The the pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control upon landing after hitting a pothole on ground.